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The Housing Choice Voucher Program
(Section 8) is designed to help very low-income families, the
elderly and the disabled to afford decent, safe and sanitary
housing in the private market (See
Section 8
Info for more
information about the program). Landlords who rent their
properties to Section 8 voucher holders benefit in several ways,
including assured rent and better upkeep of their property.
Landlord Briefings are held every one to two years to provide
updated information about the program for landlords who are
already or may be interested in renting to Section 8
Participants. At this time there are no upcoming Landlord
Briefings scheduled. However, you may check this website
periodically for the dates and times of upcoming briefings.
How To Rent To A Section 8 Participant:
1. List Your Property With the Upland Housing Authority:
You may do this by filling out the
Section 8 Housing
Listing Form online, or by visiting or calling the UHA office.
You will be asked for information about the property, including
the address, date of availability, size, and rent amount
requested. Your listing information will be made available to
all voucher holders who are looking for a unit. You may also
choose to list your property in local newspapers or classified
ads and include the phrase “Section 8 OK” in your listing.
2. Screen Prospective Tenants: Although UHA
screens our waiting list applicants for sex offender
registration and criminal history, the landlord is responsible
for screening all prospective tenants the same as they would any
other prospective tenant. UHA encourages landlords to run
criminal, rental and credit history checks on all prospective
clients.
3. Choose a Tenant: The final decision is the
landlord’s. You may charge an application fee so long as it is
the same fee charged to non-Section 8 applicants.
4. Submit a “Request For Tenancy Approval” (RFTA) to UHA:
Voucher holders are given an RFTA packet when they receive their
voucher. When you choose a tenant to rent to you will need to
fill out the packet and return it to the tenant for submittal to
UHA.
5. Have a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspection:
When UHA receives the RFTA we will schedule an inspection of the
unit to be rented. The purpose of the inspection is to verify
the unit is decent, safe, and the proposed rent is appropriate
for the size, age, and condition of the unit. See the
Housing
Quality Standards Checklist for a list of requirements to pass
inspection.
6. Determine the Rent: The rent amount must be
acceptable under the standards set by HUD and appropriate for
the size, age, and condition of the unit. The payment standards
are set by HUD and are unique to each area. See Payment
Standards for more information.
7. Sign the Lease and Housing Assistance Payments (HAP)
Contract: After the unit has passed the inspection and
the rent amount has been approved, The landlord and tenant will
sign a lease, and the landlord and a UHA representative will
sign a HAP Contract. The HAP Contract will specify the amount of
rent to be paid directly to the landlord by UHA. The lease and
contract may begin the day the unit passes inspection and the
tenant takes possession of the unit.
After the Lease & HAP Contract Are Signed
After the tenant has taken possession of the unit, UHA will mail
a check to the landlord on the first business day of each month
for the term of the HAP Contract. The check will cover UHA’s
portion of the rent. Additionally, UHA will perform an HQS
Inspection at least annually to verify the unit is being
maintained by both the landlord and the tenant.
Landlord’s Obligations
To comply with equal opportunity requirements.
To maintain the unit is good condition and complete repairs as
necessary.
To enforce and comply with the provisions of the lease,
including payment of any utilities and services provided for
under the lease.
To collect any security deposit required, the tenant’s portion
of the rent, and any charges for damages caused by the tenant.
To refrain from entering the unit without the tenant’s
permission and proper notice (except in the case of an emergency
or to make tenant-requested repairs).
To make reasonable accommodations for participants with
disabilities.
To refrain from demanding side payments from the tenant in
addition to their portion of the rent amount.
To evict the tenant when necessary for violations of the lease.
The landlord must also send copies of any eviction notice to UHA.
For further information please see our
FAQ For
Landlords Page |
